Last night at about 10:47 PM, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a report of someone shooting a gun about 11 miles up Pine Flat Road. The rapid gunfire was particularly suspicious to the 911 callers because it sounded like a semi-automatic gun. The responding Deputies were aware of a recent similar case involving a suspect who drove a gray Toyota pickup.
When Deputies got to the area about 20 minutes later, they found a vehicle matching the description from the prior call at Alexander Valley Road by the Russian River Bridge. They conducted a car stop and quickly realized it was indeed the same person from before. There was a passenger inside the truck too.
The Deputies saw in plain sight inside on the driver’s side of the truck a loaded, high capacity, drum- style magazine. They learned that the driver had also tossed a handgun out the passenger window just prior to the car stop. The Deputies were able to find the pistol and safely recovered it.
Inside the truck they also found approximately 1,243 rifle rounds, an AR-15 Assault Rifle, a .38 revolver and bullets, several exploding targets, a lock-pick set, the 100-round loaded drum magazine and multiple other illegal capacity rifle magazines (some of which were loaded).
The Deputies arrested Samuel Miekle, a 35 year-old man from Richmond, CA. Miekle is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited form possessing firearms and ammunition.
Mielke currently has a pending case for similar firearms possession violations from April when Sonoma County Deputies arrested him.
Mielke was booked for 29800(b) PC - Felon in possession of a firearm, 30605(a) PC - Possession of an assault weapon, 30305(a)(1) PC - Felon in possession of ammunition, 32310 PC - Possession of large capacity magazines, 135 PC - Destruction/Concealment of Evidence, and 466 PC - Possession of Burglary Tools.
A judge increased Mielke's bail to $50K. He is scheduled to appear in court on June 30, 2014 on this case.
The passenger was released at the scene and given a ride from the remote area by a Deputy.
case #140625-002
Prepared by Sergeant Cecile Focha
PIO/ Media Relations
707-565-3941
